The valley, through which the Wattenbach stream flows, is incised deeply into the quartz-phyllite rock of the Tux Prealps. The two dispersed settlements of Wattenberg and Vögelsberg (in the municipality of Wattens) sprawl across the outer part of the valley. At the head of the valley is the Wattentaler Lizum and its military training area of Lizum Walchen which is run by the Austrian Armed Forces. The Wattentaler Lizum lies entirely on the territory of Wattenberg.